In addition to territorial disputes, Yemen's economic dependence on other countries adds to its instability. During the 1980's, in addition to grants from the Soviet bloc, the World Bank, and the OPEC development fund, Yemen received aid from Kuwait, Algeria, Libya, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. After the discovery of oil, Saudi Arabia also provided employment,
1962 Revolution in North Yemen; military coup in capital city Sanaa; Yemen Arab Republic (YAR) is established.
1963 National Liberation Front (NLF) is formed as fighting begins to end British presence in Aden.
1967 Independence is achieved as last British forces leave Aden; People's Republic of
Yemen (later PDRY) is formed.
1967 (June) Closure of Suez Canal after Six-Day War reduces Aden's commercial
Importance until canal is reopened.
1972 Brief border war between the two Yemens; cease-fire is followed by
Announcement of plans for unification.
1977-1978 YAR president al-Hamdi and his successor, al-Ghashmi, are assassinated;
Lieutenant Colonel Ali Abdullah Salih assumes presidency; in south, Salim Rubay ali, co-ruler of PDRY is executed, leaving Abd al Fattah Ismail free to consolidate power under his leadership.
1979 Salih visits Soviet Union and receives weapons; PDRY signs treaty of friendship
With Soviet Union.
1979 Border war between the two Yemens.
1981 Salih visits PDRY, and talk of unification is renewed.
1982 Massive earthquake in YAR is followed by unsuccessful revolt led by National Democratic Front (NDF); severe flooding in PDRY weakens economy.
1986 Leaders of PDRY are assassinated; Ali Salim al-Baydh takes charge.
1987 Oil export through pipeline from Marib to Red Sea begins.
As several hundred thousand Yemeni males went to work in the oil fields in Saudi Arabia and in other oil-rich Arab nations.
The workers sent home remittances, or portions of their pay, which provided the first substantial cash income that many Yemeni families had ever enjoyed. A few private projects were funded, such as the installation of small engines to pump water, but most of the cash was spent on imported consumer goods, especially food. Most people continued to live with inadequate supplies of clean water and sanitation services. No large investments in economic development were made.
In 1990, the same year that the two Yemens united to form the Republic of Yemen, Iraq invaded Kuwait, causing the Gulf crisis. The Yemeni Republic under Ali Abdullah Salih's leadership refused to support its most important neighbor, Saudi Arabia, in a stand against Iraq. Yemeni men were expelled from Saudi Arabia
Yemen Time Line (continued)
1989 Soviet Union can no longer support PDRY.
1990-1994 More than 150 members of Yemen Socialist Party (YSP) are assassinated.
1990 (May) Unification of two Yemens is ratified, and Republic of Yemen (ROY) is formed.
1990 (Aug. 2) Persian Gulf Crisis begins; Yemen alienates United States and Saudi
Arabia by calling for negotiated settlement and end to all foreign presences in Arabian Peninsula; Islah party (Reform Group) is founded.
1993 ROY vice-president Ali Salim al-Baydh returns to Aden leaving Sanaa as protest.
1994 Civil war as forces from the north under Salih overcome secession move by the south.
1997 (Apr. 27) Salih wins reelection; Islah becomes first Islamic party ever to serve in coalition government formed through democratic elections.
1998 (Apr. 17) Members of Bin Zabyan community take three English travelers hostage in effort to force government to improve infrastructure around their town.
1998 (July 19) Saudi warships bombard Yemen-held Duwaima Island, which Saudi
Arabia claims.
1998 (Dec.) Kidnappings of foreign tourists by militant antigovernment Muslims continue.
1999 (Jan.) Yemen's arrest of British nationalists on terrorism charges raises tensions between Yemen and Great Britain.
And the remittances ended. Salih's position also angered other Arab nations and the West, so that not only the remittances but also other economic aid stopped.
World History
